Gabriel Escarrer, ceo of Melíá and president of Exceltur, has been hard with the economic measures, which slide from the Executive of Sanchez. The lobby cheap what is clear, and it has been so done to know this Tuesday the president of the Government at the opening of the leadership Forum tourist Exceltur. “The announced reversal of the labor reform or a new rise by the decree of the interprofessional minimum wage (SMI) could have very serious consequences for the employment of tourism”, has expected Escarrer

To a board with representation from the major hotel groups, as well as with the presence of Sanchez and the minister of Tourism, Reyes Maroto, the maximum leader of Exceltur has blended a gracious speech with harsh warnings for the future of the sector. In the most sour, Escarrer has questioned the alleged benefits that would “override the minimum elements of flexibility in an industry as seasonal and intensive in personnel of low qualification”.

The president Sanchez in his intervention, however, has focused on the good news of tourism: it will come back to beat record for arrivals and spending in 2019; clear improvement in inland destination, which contributes to the seasonality of the sector; and the strength exhibited to grow despite the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook, the Brexit, or the recovery of competitor countries. “Spain is a leader and has no fear of competition. We have a sole feedstock and is using those assets with intelligence,” remarked the president of the Government.

Another of the points that has pivot the criticism of Exceltur has been the possible rise in the SMI. “Any social progress must be feasible and sustainable and, above all, that has no negative impact on employment at a time of deceleration of the economy,” said Escarrer. On it, Sanchez has confirmed his bet for this rise, as well as in the recovery of social and employment rights: “There is that linking tourism and sustainability. Decent employment must be recovered. It is fair and necessary to improve the low productivity”.

in Addition, Sanchez opened up another debate in the field of taxation. “We have to see how to manage the entry of new actors, to tech giants, to compete without advantages, in equality of conditions,” he emphasized. He also didn't want to leave without mentioning the intention of the Executive to regulate the flats tour, a theme which hoteliers have spent years criticizing: “we will Continue to take measures to regulate the housing for tourist use”.

Before measures such as these, and despite an economic agenda that is of concern to the tourism sector, there was also fondling for the new Government. “We welcome the decision to renew to the minister Reyes Maroto to the front of Tourism, as well as the accent and economic moderation which denote the first statements of their Government.” Something that Sanchez has responded with the announcement of the firm support of the Executive to the sector: “it Is imperative to act with a view to the long term.”

Davos tourism

The president of the Government has picked up also the glove released a few days ago Zurab Pololikashvili, general secretary of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), to create a Davos tourism year in Madrid. “We support this initiative and we will do everything possible,” said Sanchez.

The initiative of the UNWTO is to make an annual summit on tourism to address the challenges of the sector and where you will meet the big international players in the Spanish capital.